Improvement in sash-balances



L. S. WRIGHT.

Sash-Balances.

N0. 142,604. 'P atgnted September9,1873.

A g .B E 11 Z WiTNESEEE. INVENTEJH O m bwumw A a w A WALD NITED TATE$ IMPROVEMENT EN SASH-BALANCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 12,604, dated September 9, 1873; application filed July 25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER S. WRIGHT, of Groton, in the county of Tompkins and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sash-Balance and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to balances for raising, lowering, and locking window-sash. The invention consists of a new and improved combination of devices, consisting of a single pinion-wheel loosely journaled in the frame, so that when force is applied the shaft maybe moved back and forth and cause the pinion-, wheel to gear with ratchet-bars secured one to each windowsash, and so operated, by means of springs, that when forcefis removed the springs will cause the pinion-wheel to gear with both the ratchet-bars, and thereby lock the sash in the desired position, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window-frame and sash with a portion removed to show the operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing my improved device.

A represents a window-frame of ordinary construction; B B, the upper and lower window-sash. (J U are ratchetbars secured to the sides of the sash, one to each sash. D is a pinion-wheel secured to the shaft E, which is loosely journaled'in the window-frame, as clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings. F is a crank-handle secured to the outer end of the shaft E by means of which the shaft and pinion are operated. G G represent springs, one end of each of which is secured to the frame and the other left free, so as to bear against the sides of the pinion D, and also bear against the ratchet-bar G G.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When it is desired to raise the lower sash the shaft E is drawn out to the fullest extent, when the pinion D will gear with the ratchet-bar O;

the sash B may then be raised by turning the handle F to the right; when raised to the required distance the hand may be removed from the handle, when the spring G will move the pinion inward until it engages with both the ratchet-bars (J C, and thereby lock both the sash. The free end of the spring G, resting on and beneath one of the teeth of the ratchetbar (J, will also act as a stop and prevent the descent of the sash. When it is desired to operate the upper sash the shaft E is pushed in to its fullest extent until it engages with the ratchet-bar 0, when it may be lowered by turning the handle to the left, the springs operating in the same manner when the pressure is removed-that is to say, causing the pinion to en gage with both ratchet-bars, andthe free ends of the springs resting beneath one of the teeth of the ratchet-bars so as to act as stops.

In this way it will be seen that the sash may be raised and lowered and held in the required posit-ion by a single pinion-wheel mounted on a loose journaled shalt, thereby dispensing with the use of cords and weights, and simplifying the mechanical devices which have heretofore been used as their substitute.

I am aware that shafts have been operated by means of ratchet-bars and pinions, and that they have been held in position by inserting pins between the teeth of the pinions orratchetbars, and that a number of devices of this kind have been patented; but I am not aware that the raising, lowering, and lockin g of the sash have before been accomplished by the use of a single pinion operating in combination with the springs, as herein shown and described.

I therefore claim as my invention- The combination of the pinion D and movable shaft E with the springs G G and ratchetbars (J 0, operating in the manner substantially as and for thepnrpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

LUTHER S. WRIGHT. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

GEO. H. BRISTOL, II, W. PnnLrs; 

